Australian law firms’ profits increased despite the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to their central role in advising clients on how to respond to the pandemic, a recent survey found.

Profits in Australian law firms grew by 7% in the 12 months to June 2020 and are forecast to grow 5.5% in the following 12 months, according to the CommBank’s Legal Market Pulse report, based on a survey of leaders from law firms across Australia.